Lubricator and strainer



July 27, 1937. v s, (5 DOWN 4 2,088,188

- LUBRICATOR AND STRAINER Filed Feb. 28, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SIDNEY Gr. DOWN BY ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1937 UNlTED STATES ATENT OFFICE LUBRICATOR AND STRAINER Application February 28, 1935, Serial No. 8,641

16 Claims.

This invention relates to means for cleaning and supplying lubricant to air flowing through a pipe.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined lubricator and strainer adapted to remove dirt or foreign matter from the air and to supply a lubricating medium to the air which passes through the device, and adapted to be interposed in the air line leadingto an air consuining device, such as the steam governor employed to control the operation of a steam driven air compressor. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the air flowing through the device normally passes through a straining or cleaning element, and in which the flow of air through the straining or cleaning element may be cut off without cutting off the flow of air through the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having an air straining or cleaning element through which the air normally flows and which can be removed when desired without cutting off the flow of air through the device. l

A further object of the invention. is to provide a lubricating and straining device adapted to be interposed in an air supply line and in which valve means is provided to control the flow of 6 air through an air straining or cleaning element incorporated in the device or to by-pass the air around the cleaning or straining element, and having a signal which is operable when the valve means is conditioned to by-pass air around the air straining or cleaning element. 7

Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 7 40 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a compressor control system incorporating the combined lubricator and strainer provided by my invention, the compressor governor and a por tion of the engineers brake valve device being 45 shown in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2; V

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 1; and 55 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the valve means turned to a difierent rotative position.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown the combined lubricator and strainer provided by my invention incorporated in the control'sy'stem for a steam driven air compressor. As shown in the drawings the combined strainer and lubricator provided by my invention is indicated generally by the reference character I, and is interposed in the pipe which leads from the engineers brake 10 valve device I l to the low pressure top l3 of the compressor governor which is indicated general- 1y by the reference character I2. The brake valve device l I has a valve chamber which communicates with the main reservoir It by way of 15 a pipe ll, While a pipe l8 connects the main reservoir to with the high pressure top 2|] of the governor l2 so that the high pressure top is always subject to the pressure of the fluid in the main reservoir l6. 7 r 20 The brake valve device I I has a rotary valve 22 controlled by the handle 23, the rotary valve 22 having a port 24 therein to control communication from the valve chamber and the main reservoir IE to the pipe M which leads to the lubrircator and strainer Ill. The port 24 is arranged so as to establish communication for supplying 'fluid under pressure from the main reservoir to the pipe I4 in certain positions of the operating handle 23, and it'is preferably arranged so as to supply fluid to the pipe l4 when the operating handle is in the release, running and holding positions, and to cut off communication between the main reservoir and the pipe It in other positions of the brake valve handle. When running over the road, therefore, with the brakes released, fluid under pressure is supplied to the low pressure top l3 of the governor which serves to control the air compressor.

As shown in Figure 1 the governor l2 maybe of the well known type comprising a steam valve body 25, a cylinder section 26, and a cylinder head 21 in which are secured the low pressure top section l3 and the high pressure top section 20." The body 25 is provided with a partition wall 3|! which separates the steam inlet chamber 32 from the outlet chamber 33 and is provided with avalve seat for a steam valve 34 which is carried by a stem 35. Loosely carried within an axial bore in the stem 35 of the steam valve 34 is a stem 46 the upper end of which is pressed into an axial bore in a piston 4| which works in a bushing 50 secured in the cylinder section 26.

V The two governor heads each comprise a spring box -secured in the head 21. A valve seat 55 bushing 5'! provided with an annular flange 58 is mounted below the spring box and a flexible diaphragm 59 is mounted between the spring box and the valve seat bushing. A valve element 62 is mounted in the valve seat bushing 51 and engages a seat provided in the bushing. The valve element 52 is provided with a rectangular guide head 63, the rounded corners of which engage a cylindrical guide Wall in the bushing, and when the corners are in such engagement, there will be spaces between the straight sides of the head and the walls of the bushing through which fluid under pressure supplied to the passages 65 in the bushing is supplied to the chamber at one side of the flexible diaphragm 59.

Mounted in a chamber in the bushing 51 is a coil spring 58 having one end in engagement with a spring plate 69 which is provided with a central depression adapted to receive the rounded end of a stem I0 carried by the valve 62.

The spring box 55 has an adjustable coil spring 15 mounted therein, one end of which bears upon a plate l6 engaging the diaphragm 59. The upper end of the spring I5 engages a spring plate TI whichds engaged by the end of the adjusting screw 19.

The left hand governor top, which is indicated by the reference character 2!), is known as the high pressure top, and the right hand governor top, which is indicated by the reference character I3, is known as the low pressure top. The spring I5 of the low pressure top is responsive to a lower pressure acting on the diaphragm 59 associated with this portion of the governor than the spring of the high pressure top.

In operation the chamber on the lower side of the diaphragm 59 of the high pressure top is supplied with fluid under pressure from the main reservoir I6 by way of pipes ii and I8, and the chamber on the under side of the diaphragm 59 of the low pressure top is supplied with fluid at the pressure compressed by the compressor into the main reservoir when the brake valve handle 23 is moved to certain of its positions. The fluid which is supplied to the chambers on the lower sides of the diaphragms of the governor tops urges these diaphragms upwardly, and if the pressure of the fluid supplied to either of these chambers is of sufiiciently high value, the diaphragm associated with this chamber will be flexed upwardly to permit one of the valve elements 62 to be unseated by the spring 68 associated therewith. When a valve element 52 is unseated fluid under pressure flows from the chamber on the lower side of the diaphragm to the chamber on the upper face of the piston 4|, forcing the piston downwardly and thereby moving the steam valve 34 to the closed position to cut ofi the supply of steam to the compressor.

The springs 15 associated with the high and low pressure tops are adjusted so that difierent fluid pressures in the chambers beneath the diaphragms are required to move the diaphragms against the springs. The spring 15 associated with the high pressure top 20 is adjusted so that a somewhat higher pressure is required to move the diaphragm associated with this top than is required to move the diaphragm associated with the low pressure top I3.

When fluid under pressure is supplied to the low pressure top I3, this top will operate to control the operation of the compressor controlled by the governor, and when the supply of fluid to the low pressure top is cut off the compressor will be controlled by the high pressure top. The

supply of fluid to the low pressure top is controlled by the engineers brake valve device so that fluid is supplied to the low pressure top when the brake valve device is in the release, running and holding positions. The brake valve device is in one of these positions a large portion of the time, so that during all except a small portion of the time the air compressor will be controlled by the low pressure top.

The fluid which is supplied to the low pressure top of the governor flows. from the engineers brake valve device II through the pipe I4, and thence through the lubricator and strainer provided by my invention which serves to clean and remove all dirt from the air which flows to the governor, and to supply to the air a limited amount of lubricant which is carried by the air to the compressor governor to lubricate the parts of the governor.

The construction of the combined lubricator and strainer provided by my invention is shown in detail in Figures 2 to 6 of the drawings, and, as illustrated, comprises a body 90 having a chamber 9! formed in the lower portion thereof and having a taper plug valve element 93 adapted to be operated by a handle 94 fitted in the upper portion thereof. A cap nut 95 is screwed into the valve body to close the opening at the larger end of the valve, and a spring 98 is positioned between the cap nut 95 and the end of the valve 93 and tends to maintain said valve seated.

The body 90 also has a chamber I formed in the upper portion thereof and which communicates with the chamber Si by way of a passage IDI which is closed by a cap nut I82 which is screwed into the body 95. A quantity of suitable air cleaning material, such as curled hair indicated at 554, is placed in the chamber I00. The curled hair I04 is held in position by means of perforated discs I05 which are secured together by means of a rivet I06. The lower disc I55 rests upon a shoulder formed around the passage IElI leading from the lower end of the chamber I50, while a tubular bushing I08 extends between the upper disc I05 and the lower face of the cap nut I52, and serves to maintain the curled hair in position in the chamber I00.

Means is provided to supply lubricant to the chamber 9! and this means comprises an opening I9 which communicates with the chamber 9i, and which is closed by means of a threaded plug III. The opening IID communicates with the chamber SI at a point vertically below the passage IGI leading from the chamber Iilf] to the chamber 9! and is arranged so that the level to which the lubricant in the chamber 9i may be raised will be below the lower end of the chamber I00 in which the air strainer is positioned.

The body has a chamber H5 formed therein adjacent the valve 93 and this chamber communicates with the upper portion of the chamber 9| by Way of a passage in a curved tubular member H6. A Wick H8 is provided which has one end thereof positioned in the curved tubular member H6 and which has its lower end submerged in the lubricant in the chamber 9!.

The body 90 also has a substantially cylindrical opening I20 formed therein and in which is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner, h

the end of the pipe I4 leading from the engineers brake valve device. A passage I2I communicates with the opening I20 and leads to the valve 93 which has a passage or port I22 formed therein, and which, in certain positions of'the -valve 93, is in alignment with the passage I2I and with a passage I23 leading to the chamber I00 so as to establish communication between which .is adapted in the same position of the.

I34 when the ports I23 and I2! are in alignment with the passages IZI and tively.

The valve 93 also has a port I35 formed therein and communicating, in one position of the valve 93, With the chamber II5 and with the passage H39 in which is secured the discharge I23, respecpipe IN.

The valve 93 also has a shallow oil distribut ing groove I31 formed therein and extending axially from the port I35. This groove serves to distribute oil over the wall of the cavity in which the valve is located to lubricate this wall and the valve.

In the operation of the combined strainer and ubricator provided by my invention air is supplied to the device by way of the pipe l4, and with the valve 93 in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, air flows from the pipe I4 to the passage HI and through the port or passage i22 in the valve element 93 to the passage Hi3, and thence to the chamber H19 and through the curled hair Ifi l, Which cleansrthe air and removes any particles of dirt which may be present therein. From the chamber. I99 the air flows through the passage I9! to the chamber 9| which contains the lubricant, and from this chamber the air flows through the tubular member M6 to the chamber H9. lThe Wick H8 fits loosely enough in the tubular member H3 to permit air to flow freely through the member H3. The wick iii) is saturated with oil due to capillary action and it carries a small amount of oil into the chamber H5, and as the air flows over the wick II8 it picks up a portion of the oil present in the wick. From the chamber II5 the air flows through the passage I39 in the a valve 93 and therefrom to the passage I33, and thence through the pipe I3! to the compressor governor. In the preferred embodiment the pipe I3I is relatively short, the combined strainer and lubricator being placed as near the governor as possible. The air which flows to the governor will contain a limited amount of lubricant which will be deposited upon the working parts of the governor so as to lubricate the governor.

The combined lubricator and strainer provided by this invention incorporates means by which the flow of air from the supply pipe I4 to the discharge pipe E3I may be by-passed around the air strainer and the chamber containing the lubricant if desired. This is accomplished by turningthe valve. 93 one'quarter, of a turn by means of the handle,'94.:; 'A projection-on the housing and indicated at I4 engages a projece tion I4I on the handle to limit the amount of rotation of the valve 93 by the handle and these projections are arranged to prevent rotation of the valve element beyond the point at which the ports in the valve element are in alignment with the ports in the housing 90.

When the valve 93 has: been rotated one quarter turn from the position shown in Figure 2 the valve will be in the position shown in Figure 6, in which it will be seen that the passage I22 is moved out of communication with the passage -I2I leading from the pipe i4, and out of communication with the passage I23 leading to the chamber It so as to cut off the flow of fluid from the'pipe E4 to the chamber Hit. It will be seen also that the port I35 is moved out of communication with'the chamber H5 and the pipe I3I so as to cut ofi communication between the chamber 9! and the discharge pipe. The chamber I99 and the reservoir chamber 9!, therefore, are cut ofi" from both the supply and discharge pipes associated With the device.

When the valve element ,93 is in the position shown in Figure 6, the port I23 is in communication with the passage I2I leading from .the supply pipe I4, and fluid under pressure can flow from the supply pipe l4 through the passage 52!, and the port I26 to the passage 925 in the valve 93, and therefrom through the port I2? to the passage l28 leading to the discharge pipe l3I. At the same time the port 533, which leads from the passage I25, is moved into communication with the vent port I34 formed in the body 9 so that fluid under pressure in the passage E25 can escape through the vent port. This provides an audible signal or indication that the valve has been turned to the position in which the flow of fluid through the combined lubricator and strainer is by-passed around the lubricating and straining means.

With the valve 93 in the position shown in Fig. 6, the supply of fluid under pressure to the compressor governor is maintained independently of the strainer and the lubricating chamber. With the valve in this position the air straining element may be removed for cleaning or replacement if desired, and this may be accomplished by removing the cap nut I02 and lifting the air straining element out of the chamber I9. Similarly, the supply of lubricant in the chamber 9| may be replenished, this being accomplished by removing the plug III and pouring lubricant into the chamber 9 through the passage IIil until the lubricant overflows and runs out of the passage.

After the plug I II and the cap nut I92 have been replaced the combined lubricator and strainer is restored to normal operation by turning the valve 93 back one quarter turn so that the passage I22 is in alignment with the passages B28 and I23, and so that the passage I35 is in com munication with the chamber II5 and the discharge pipe I3I. The handle 94 is provided with a lug I42 adapted to engage the projecting portion I49 on the housing to prevent rotation of the valve beyond this point.

When the valve has been turned to the position in which communication is established between the supply pipe I4 and the chamber I33, and between the chamber 9| and the exhaust or discharge pipe I3I, communication between the passage I25 formed in. the valve 93 and the sup-ply pipe by way of the port I26, and the dischargepipe byway of the port I21, and the-vent passage i3 3 by way of the port I33 is out 01f.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the improved lubricator and strainer provided by my invention is adapted to be interposed in the air supply line leading to the governor employed in connection with a steam driven air compressor, and that the lubricator and strainer provides means to strain or clean the air which passes through it and to supply a limited quantity of lubricant to the air, which lubricant will be carried to the governor to lubricate it.

It will be seen also that the lubricator and strainer provided by my invention incorporates means by which the flow of air through the device may be maintained while the flow of air through the air strainer incorporated in the device is cut off. In addition it will be seen that the lubricator and strainer provided by this invention has a vent passage through which air is permitted to escape to the atmosphere when the device is conditioned to by-pass the flow of air around the air strainer incorporated in the device, thereby providing an audible signal which indicates that the air strainer has been cut out of the passage through which the air flows through the device.

It will be seen also that the improved lubricating and straining device provided by this invention incorporates means by which the air strainer employed in the device may be removed for cleaning or other purposes, and by which the supply of lubricant in the device may be replenished without interrupting the flow of fluid through the device.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these details of construction and that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I-Ia-vin now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is:

1. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, said device having a pair of passages therethrough, fluid straining means and lubricant supplying means associated with one of said passages, the other of the passages being adapted to establish communication through the fluid supply pipe independently of the fluid straining means and the lubricant supplying means, and valve means operable to direct the flow of fluid through the device through either of said passages, and to cut off the flow of fluid through the other of said passagesv 2. In a device of the class described and adapt ed to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, said device having a pair of passages therethrough, fluid straining means and lubricant supplying means interposed in one of said passages, a vent passage associated with the other of said passages, and valve means operable to direct the flow of fluid through the device through either of said passages and to cut off the flow of fluid through the other of said passages.

3. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and valve means controlling the flow of fluid from the supply passage to said chamber and from said chamber to the exhaust passage, and controlling a communication between said supply passage and said exhaust passage independent of said chamber.

4. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and a single valve element controlling communication between the supply passage and said chamber, between the chamber and the exhaust passage, and between the supply passage and the exhaust passage independent of the chamber.

5. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, and having a vent passage formed therein, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and valve means controlling the flow of fluid from the supply passage to said chamber and from said chamber to the exhaust passage, and between the supply pass-age and the vent passage.

6. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply pass-age therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, and having a vent passage formed therein, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and a single valve controlling communication between the supply passage and said chamber, between the chamber and the exhaust passage, between the supply passage and the exhaust passage independent of the chamber, and between the supply passage and the vent passage.

7. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and a single valve element controlling communication between the supply passage and said chamber, between the chamber and the exhaust passage, and between the Supply passage and the exhaust passage independent of the chamber, said valve element being movable between spaced positions and being adapted in one of said positions to open communication between the supply passage and said chamber,

and between the chamber and the exhaust passupply passage and the exhaust passage, and being adapted in the other of said positions to cut off communication between the supply passage and said chamber, and between said chamber and the exhaust passage, and to open communication between the supply and exhaust passages independently of said chamber.

8. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, and having a vent passage formed therein, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid. strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, and valve means controlling the flow of fluid from the supply passage to said chamber and from said chamber to the exhaust passage, said valve element being movable between spaced positions and being adapted in one of said positions to open communication between the supply passage and said chamber, between the chamber and the exhaust passage, and to close direct com munication between the supply passage and the exhaust passage, and to close communication between the supply passage and the vent passage, and being adapted in the other of said positions to cut off communication between the supply passage and said chamber and between said chamber and the exhaust passage, and to open communication between the supply and exhaust passages independently of said chamber and to open communication between the supply passage and the vent passage.

9. In a device of the class described and adapted to be interposed in a fluid supply pipe, a body having a chamber therein adapted to hold a quantity of lubricant, the body having a supply passage therein adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having an exhaust passage therein leading from said device, the chamber communicating with the supply and exhaust passages, a fluid strainer interposed in the communication between the supply passage and the chamber, valve means controlling the flow of fluid from the supply passage to said chamber and from said chamber to the Exhaust passage, 2. wall of said chamber having an opening therein through which lubricant may be added to said chamber, said opening being located vertically below the point at which the passage leading from the chamber to the exhaust passage communicates with said chamber, and a wick having one end thereof immersed in the lubricant in said chamber and having the other end thereof positioned in the passage leading from sai chamber. 10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pipe through which fluid is adapted to flow, a casing interposed in said pipe and having a chamber containing a body of lubricant and having a passage, communication for the flow of fluid through said pipe being established by way of said chamber and said passage and a wick extending into said passage and supplied with lubricant from said body of lubricant by capillary action.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pipe through which fluid under pressure flows, a casing interposed in said pipe, a fluid strainer, and valve means in said casing having one position in which communication is established for the flow of. fluid through said pipe by way of said fluid strainer and another position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe independently of said strainer.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pipe through which fluid under pressure flows, a casing interposed in said pipe, means for supplying lubricant to fluid flowing through said pipe, and valve means in said casing having one position in which communication is estab lished for the flow of fluid through said pipeby way of said lubricant supplying means and another position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe independently of said lubricant supplying means.

13. In a device of the class described, in com bination, a, pipe through which fluid under pressure flows, a casing interposed in said pipe, a fluid strainer, means for supplying a lubricant to the fluid flowing through said pipe, and valve means in said casing having one position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe by way of said fluid strainer and said lubricant supplying means and another position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe independently of said strainer.

14. In combination, a steam pump: governor, an engineers brake valve device, a pipe through which fluid under pressure is supplied by said valve device to said governor, a casing interposed in said pipe, means in said casing for filtering the fluid flowing through said pipe and for supplying lubricant to the fluid flowing through said pipe, and valve means for controlling communication through which fluid flo-ws through said filtering and lubricant supplying means and opera-ble to establish communication through said pipe independently of said filtering and lubricant supplying means.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pipe through which fluid under pressure flows, a casing interposed in said pipe, a fluid strainer, means for supplying lubricant to the fluid flowing through said pipe, and valve means in said casing having one position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe by way of said fluid strainer and said lubricant supplying means, and another position in which communication isestablished for the flow of fluid through said pipe independently of said fluid strainer and said lubricant supplying means.

16. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pipe through which fluid under pressure flows, a casing interposed in said pipe, a fluid strainer, means for supplying lubricant to the fluid flowing through said pipe, said casing having a vent passage formed therein, and valve means in said casing having one position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe by way of said fluid strainer and said lubricant supplying means, and another position in which communication is established for the flow of fluid through said pipe independently of said fluid strainer and said lubricant supplying means, and in which communication is established through said vent passage.

SIDNEY G. DOWN. 

